Byline: ARIS R. ILAGAN & ROY C. SINFUEGO

Vice President Noli de Castro urged yesterday President Arroyo to "define and prescribe reasonable terms to guide government agencies pursuant to her declaration" of a state of national emergency as he reiterated his stand "that the government

De Castro reacted to the police raid on Saturday morning of the Daily Tribune newspaper after Ms. Arroyo issued the emergency declaration and accused some mediamen of helping conspirators of an alleged attempt to bring down her government.

Meanwhile, tension flared inside the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio last night after the Philippine Navy (PN) announced the relief of Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda as commandant of the 8,000-strong Philippine Marines based in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City due to the controversy involving another senior Marine official who planned to lead a group of disgruntled military officers in withdrawing their support for President Arroyo.

The Marines headquarters was closed to non-organic personnel and civilians, including mediamen and politicians.

Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. arrived at 7 p.m. but was barred entry by heavily armed troops. The senator was later allowed to enter with his security men at 8 p.m.

The Marine headquarters was partially lighted, except in strategic areas such as the barracks which where lighted.

Marines were in their barracks, in full battle gear and combat readiness. Outside, nuns and mediamen prayed the Rosary with some civilians sympathizing with the Marines and acting as protective ring around the main gate of the Marine headquarters.

Members of the foreign and national media who had earlier been allowed entry to the Marine headquarters remained there. But those who arrived late were refused entry.

In an interview, Magsaysay said the Arroyo government "is now paralyzed because of confusion that has been given to people around here."

He said the President "should now resign and the whole bureaucracy to pave the way for a new leadership because the situation is now untenable."

"PGMA is now in a very tight situation, the situation is very irreversible," he said.

PN Flag-Officer-inCommand Rear Admiral Mateo Mayuga led the turnover ceremonies at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio for Mirandaas successor, Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga as Marine commandant in acting capacity.

The turnover ceremony triggered rumors of unauthorized troop movements in Makati and other parts of Metro Manila which the PN leadership quickly denied.

Allaga was the former deputy commandant of the Philippine Marines and he assumed his new post as officer-in-charge of the PNas elite fighting force effective yesterday.

In a text message, Navy Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said that Miranda voluntarily requested that he be relieved as Marine commandant but refused to divulge the reason behind his decision.

However, well-placed sources in the Marines said that Miranda asked the Navy leadership to allow him to be relieved from his post as a result of the controversy on the alleged involvement of Col. Ariel Querubin in the latest attempt to overthrow President Arroyo. "Miranda wanted to clear his name," the source added.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1974 and considered a "highly-respected officer" in the Marines, Miranda will be temporarily assigned at the office of Mayuga.

Gen. Generoso Senga, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), had earlier ordered Querubin to undergo investigation for his alleged involvement in the latest destabilization attempt against the Arroyo administration.

Senga disclosed that Querubin, along with Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, was planning to join the protest march during the commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution on EDSA last week where they will withdraw their support for their commander-in-chief.

Lim and Querubin were founders of the rightist Young Officers Union that led several coups along with the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) and Soldiers of the Filipino People (SFP) against the Aquino government in December 1989.

Querubin, a member of the PMA Class 1979, was not relieved from his post as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Marawi City, the AFP said.

In an interview in Fort Bonifacio, Querubin criticized the relief of Miranda, saying that he was a "sacrificial lamb" in the controversy involving the issue on disgruntled Marine personnel. Querubin asked soldiers to unite to protest the removal of Miranda from his post.

Two truckloads of antiriot personnel of the PN blocked the main gate of the Philippine Marines headquarters to prevent civilians from entering.

The opposition led by former Vice President Teofisto T. Guingona Jr. attempted to enter the Marines headquarters but were prevented by Navy anti-riot teams that came from the Bonifacio Naval Station.

When the anti-riot Navy personnel attempted to disperse Guingonaas group, they sat on the road and prayed, which resulted to a standoff.

At the Philippine Navy headquarters on Roxas Blvd. in Manila, Mayuga said that the relief of Miranda, whom he described as a "longtime friend," voluntarily asked to be relieved from his post.

When reporters asked the reason why Miranda voluntary resigned from his post, Mayuga said, "Itas better that you ask him the reason why he did that."

Mayuga pointed out that the turnover ceremony was a "regular routine" in the military. He urged sectors of society not to out any put political color in the event.

"Gen. Allaga is capable enough. Letas give him a chance," Mayuga said.

Meanwhile, police reportedly blocked soldiers from the Bicol region and Cavite from proceeding to Metro Manila.

The Cavite police, which set up several blockades along the national highway, stopped a convoy of six-by-six trucks from the Marines base in Ternate, Cavite.

In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP chief Director General Arturo C. Lomibao said PNP units nationwide are intact and all accounted for. He reiterated the police commitment to uphold the Constitution and protect duly constituted authorities.

Lomibao also denied rumors that the PNP Special Action Force have abanadoned the government. "In fact, I just visited them in their camp and their morale was on a high level."

Lomibao also asked members of the PNP Press Corps to leave Camp Crame, citing safety and security reasons while the crisis in Fort Bonifacio is ongoing.

In a press statement, the Vice President, who shot to national fame for his stint as a broadcaster and host of a TV program over the giant ABS-CBN broadcasting network, also reminded the government to consider "the best interest of the greater number of Filipinos" in the exercise "of the right and power of the President to protect the people from destabilizing force.

"Safeguarding the freedom of speech and of the press is primordial to the preservation of our democratic way of life," De Castro said in his statement.

"As Vice President and as part of media, I reiterate my stand that the government respect human rights and protect civil liberties, especially, freedom of the press. The role of media is that of serving as a watchdog for exposing social injustice and abuse of power," he said.

De Castro press statement follows in full:

"While we respect the right and power of the President to protect the people and the State from any destabilizing force, the best interest of the greater number of Filipinos must be borne in mind.

"Safeguarding the freedom of speech and of the press is primordial to the preservation of our democratic way of life.

"The President should define and prescribe reasonable terms to guide government agencies acting pursuant to her declaration.

"As Vice President and as part of media, I reiterate my stand that the government respect human rights and protect civil liberties, especially, freedom of the press. The role of media is that of serving as a watchdog for exposing social injustice and abuse of power.

"The government may do justice to media by encouraging self-regulation and not repression. But at the same time, if law enforcers believe that a media entity is committing crime against any person or government, then they must immediately enforce the law."

Palaceas threat to supervise critical dailies a suppression of civil liberties, Drilon says

By JUDE C. GALFORD III

Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday branded the recent threat of the administration to supervise newspapers critical of MalacaA[+ or -]ang as a suppression of civil liberties which is practiced only under martial law.

Likewise, Drilon warned President Arroyo that a state of national emergency does not confer her additional powers other than those defined by the Constitution.

"The obvious intention is to silence President Arroyoas critics," Drilon said of the policeas raid on the Tribune newspaper which has been critical of the administration. "The police raid at the Tribune is a direct assault on press freedom and this will be condemned not only in the Philippines but in the international community as well."

Drilon said the arrest of several political enemies of Arroyo, including Rep. Crispin Beltran of the Anakpawis party-list, his wife Rosario, and five other companions without a court order is "going beyond the presidential powers.

Administration Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said there is a factual basis for Proclamation No. 1017 on the state of a national emergency.

She cited a report in Time Asia about opposition leaders meeting to plan to take over the government. The report, posted in the newsmagazineas website Thursday last week, said the 20th Peopleas Power Anniversary will be used to launch attempts to topple the Arroyo administration.

Independent Sen. Manny Villar joined Drilon in condemning the raid on Tribune as an attempt at curtailing press freedom.

"By its very nature, the media is meant to be an independent entity. Thus, no one can ask journalists to toe the line and protect certain interests. A newspaper, after all, is a public trust," he said.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan said the Senate will start this week a probe on the legal and factual basis of the controversial proclamation to assuage publice fears that the declaration would lead to a declaration of martial rule.

The Cabinet officials to be invited to explain Proclamation 1017 before the Senate are Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz.

Senator Arroyo: GMA has acrossed constitutional limits of what the President can doa

Sen. Joker Arroyo said yesterday that President Arroyo has "crossed the constitutional limits of what the President can do."

"If she does not correct it, that will be the beginning of her downfall. Leaders fall when they tinker with the civil liberties of the people," he said.

He cited the constitutional provision: "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of the press."

"Negatively phrased, it means that no law or action can be undertaken by the government that would amount to curtailment of the freedom of the press," he said.

Govat can take over vital industries even after lifting of state of emergency a" Gonzalez

By GABRIEL S. MABUTAS

The government can take over vital industries like the media even after President Arroyo has lifted the declaration of a state of national emergency, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said yesterday.

Gonzalez said under Sections 17 and 18 of Article 12 of the Constitution, the government can take over, control and even buy vital entities if necessary.

"Under Section 17 of Article 12, (the state can) temporary take over and operate (any vital industry). Under section 18, take over and, in effect, buy the public utilitiesa[bar] upon payment of just compensation," he said.

Gonzalez said that the government will file sedition charges against the publisher of The Daily Tribune raided Saturday morning by policemen.

aRaid on dailies spells death of press freedom under 1017 a" Pimentel

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) said the police raid on the offices of the Daily Tribune, Abante and Abante Tonite on Saturday spelled the death of press freedom as a consequence of the declaration of a state of national emergency or Proclamation 1017.

"The raid on the Daily Tribune, Abante and Abante Tonite by the Philippine National Police at dawn on Saturday is a true sign of the impending death of free press. Democracy cannot survive without a free press, speech and assembly. We should condemn it," the senator from Mindanao said.

Satur: Proclamation 1017 is not only patently illegal but also a suppresion of rights

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo yesterday said "the declaration of a state of national emergency is not only patently illegal; it is also aimed at suppressing the civil liberties and political rights of our people."

In a statement coursed through Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca Jr., chairman of Bayan Muna, Ocampo said:

"Friends and comrades in arms, what happened yesterday (last Friday) and this morning (Saturday) cannot be taken lightly. The declaration of a state of national emergency is not only patently illegal; it is also aimed at suppressing the civil liberties and political rights of our people.

"How else can we explain the bellicose pronouncements from MalacaA[+ or -]ang, the blanket ban on rallies and demonstrations, the violent dispersal of our peaceful assemblies, the closure and harassment of critical media outlets, and the arbitrary and illegal arrest of opposition figures?"

Beltran cries aharassmenta, says arrest warrant was forged by policemen

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran yesterday described his arrest Saturday as "outright harassment."

"Lumalabas na kinuha ang alleged at bogus warrant na hinapag ng CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) ay kinuha sa warrant noon. Ang alam kong kopya ng warrant dati (ay na-issue) kay Felixberto Olalia, et. al, but that was in 1982, bago kami arestuhin noon nina Bert Olalia. Sa alleged warrant ngayon, ako lang ang tanging respondent," he said.

Beltran called on to President Arroyo to withdraw Proclamation 1017 immediately as it was unconstitutional. "Ginagamit lamang ito para sa harassment ng oposisyon na tumututol sa pananatili ni Gng. Arroyo sa poder at upang kitilin nang tuluyan ang freedom of association and speech," he said.

Political party raises apprehension over crackdown on media

The Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) yesterday said it views with apprehension the crackdown on media.

"While we recognize governmentas right to protect itself from those who conspire to bring it down in violent ways and from those who let themselves be used by the latter, we believe it should take steps to assure media that it does not intend to muzzle responsible journalism. Defining in the clearest terms possible what is irresponsible is one such step," the party said.

"We in the party believe that a free and responsible press plays a key role in a democracy, and to restrict press freedom would be tantamount to restricting the growth of the country and its people," it said.

Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong protest Proclamation 1017

By HELEN LUK

HONG KONG (AP) a" About 60 Filipino migrant workers protested Sunday outside the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong, denouncing their nationas president for declaring a state of emergency and demanding she step down.

"Oust, oust GMA!" yelled the protesters outside the consulateas office, referring to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

"Oust the U.S.-Arroyo regime!" read another placard.

Eman Villanueva, one of Sundayas protest organizers, blasted the decree as "martial law in disguise."

"The Filipino people have had enough of the fascist rule of Gloria Macapagal Arroyoas government," Villanueva said. "Weave had enough of the poverty, the injustice, the human rights violations under her presidency."